Air impulse counter



J1me 1965 c. M. CARLSON AIR IMPULSE COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1962 FIG.

IN VEN TOR. 64/?& M 0491.50

@Jm MA ATTORNEYS June 1, 1965 c. M. CARLSON AIR IMPULSE COUNTER 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 3, 1962 INVENTOR. 64/?4 AK 3 ,3 t AIR IMPULSE COUNTER Carl M. Carlson, 344 12th St., Cresskill, NJ.

Filed Oct. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 228,095 3 Claims. (Cl; 91-443) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved pneumatic counter. r

It is a primary object to provide an apparatus ofthis type which may be relied upon to accurately register the number of a series of air impulses and which will operate Without manual supervision or attention for long periods of time with freedom from all difliculties.

The invention is described herein in terms of an air impulse counter however, it should be understood that this is by way of example only and the invention iscontemplated for use in any other pressurized medium such as oil, water or gas.

It is a still further object to provide a unit of simple design, the critical parts of which will be maintained at a relatively low temperature rise during operation. 7

Another object isthat of designing an impulse counter which will embody a stop structure such that the registering mechanism will be relieved of this function and accordingly not subjected to damaging shocks.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a simple mechanical device for convertingan air impulse into arotary movement of a mechanical member.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the counter;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the assembly;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side .view in enlarged scale taken along the line 44 in the'direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 1; a i

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along'theline 5-5 in the direction of the arrows as indicated 'in. FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a face view of a flapper element which forms a part of the assembly.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 1 to 3; it will be seen that the numeral 10 indicates a base from which a bracket 11 extends. Mounted ,upon the latter is a registering mechanism embodying a conventional numerical counter 12 conveniently provided with a reset knob 13. Bracket 11 may conveniently be integral with base 10. The same is true of a cap 14 extending upwardly from the opposite side of the base.

This cap forms the end member of a casing assembly which embraces a ring 15, main'cas'ing portion 16 and an outer cap 17. These several parts are preferably formed with openings 18 (see FIG. 5) adjacent the zones of their corners to receive the shanks of bolts or screws 19 to thus retain the parts of the casing assembly against movement. Obviously, any alternative structure might be adopted to achieve this result. I

As shown especially in FIG. 4, cap 17 is formed with an opening 20. Interposed between this cap and main casing section 16 is an entrance plate 21. In its outer face this plate is formed with an entrance well portion or port comprised of an increased diameter section 22 and a decreased diameter section 23 of reduced diameter extending through to its inner face. A flapper in the form of a disc 24 is disposed for reciprocation within well 22 and moves from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 4 to that indicated in dot and dash lines; further outward movement being prevented by the inner face of cap 17.

A seal preferably in the form of an O ring 25 is interposed between plate 21 and the inner face of cap 17. An annular sealing head 26 is disposed within the groove United States Patent 3,186,311 Patented June 1, 1965 formed in the periphery of plate 21 and bears against the inner face of easing section 16 to assure against leakage at this'point. Further seals (not shown) may be provided at desired points. Bead 26 defines the edge'zone of :a flexible member or diaphragm 27. That'member is conveniently formed of rubber or similar material and has a width such that it extends between the adjacent edge zone of plate 21 an'd'the inner face of easing section 16. Conveniently, the inner face of' entrance plate 21 is formed with an entrance plate'recess 28 and grooves 29 against which the base of member 27 bears when the parts occupy a normalposition. By virtue ofthe passages thus provided air may flow through opening '20, well portion 22, plate bore 23 and so through the recess and grooves to act againstthe outer face of body 27.

Such flow of air will be controlled by flapper 24. The body of that disc is formed with a central aperture 30; the area of the disc center zone being greater than the diameter of port 23. Between this center zone and the periphery of the disc a plurality-of flapper passages or openings 31 are provided. With the disc in the position shown, air will flow under pressure through well portion 22 and the relatively restricted central aperture 30 and immediately expand within bore 23, recess 28 and grooves or passages 29. That is to say, air will be allowed to expand into bore 23, recess 28 and passage 29. Accordingly, the parts in contact'with the expanding air column will be cooled. Under a return flow of air fromthe space between body 27 and the inner face of entrance plate 21 the flapper disc will move out of contact with entrance plate 21 to the position shown in dot anddash lines. In that position, it is apparent that the air flow will not be restricted merely to aperture 30. Rather, free flow through flapper passage or openings 31 will occur.

inwardly of the flexible seal provided by bead 26 and body 27 a piston 32 is disposed. This piston has its skirt formed with aligned openings receiving ends of a pin 33. The clearance between the parts is such that pin 33 may shift in, axial directions. Its end zones ride within tracking portions 34 formed on the inner face of the main casing section 16 to confine the movements of the pin and 1 pin within the zone defined by the skirt of piston 32 with respect to. which it may be telescopically disposed. A cup 38 bears against pin 33 and is engaged by the outer end of spring 39. The opposite end of that spring thrusts against the inner end of sleeve 35. An adaptor 40 is secured to the outer end of sleeve 35 in any manner such as by screws or bolts 41. The adaptor in turn is coupled conveniently by splines 43 to a shaft 42 which forms a part of the registering mechanism within casing 12.

It follows as a consequence of the foregoing structure that when air under pressure flows through the opening or passage 20 as aforedescribed, it will pass through aperture 30 and distend flexible member 27 to simultaneously thrust piston 32 to the right as viewed in FIG.

4. Due to pin 33 this will involve a straight movement on the part of the piston in that the ends of the pin are restrained from arcuate movement by track portions 34. As this movement occurs, rotor 35 will be turned due to the pin riding within its slots 37. This rotation should preferably be through an arc of substantially less than During the foregoing movements of the parts spring 39 will be compressed. Pin 33 engaging the ends of slots 37 will arrest inward movement of the piston assembly and consequently the rotation imparted to shaft 42. Upon the pressure of the air being relieved, that air which previously has been exerting a cooling effect withing the area of recess 28 and the adjacent grooves 29 5; 3 will begin a return travel incident to the pressure exerted by spring 39. In that return travel the flapper embracing the disc formed with apertures and openings 30 and 31 will shift so that the return flow will be unimpeded. Piston 32 will be arrested in its outward movement by body 27, being thrust into engagement with the adjacent surfaces of plate 21. Thus the cessation of piston movement in an outward direction will be cushioned by body 27.

During this return movement rotor 35 will shift arcuately in a direction opposite that which it followed as the piston was projected. It will carry with it shaft 42. That shaft in the initial movement of the parts actuated the registering mechanism within casing 12 to advance the reading of the latter. During the return of the parts to their initial positions, lost motion will have occurred within the registering mechanism. Accordingly, the numerical presentation of the. register will remain unaltered. Succeeding operations will in each instance advance the registration of the mechanism within casing 11. When a series of operations has been completed then by the reset mechanism controlled by knob 13 or otherwise, a further numerical sequence may be set up.

One skilled in the art can immediately realize that the device can be designed so that the numerical presentation could be changed by the final movement of parts (spring return portion of the cycle) rather than the initial movement. The initial movement (pressure portion of the cycle) in such a design simply charges or preloads the registering mechanism and the final movement of parts (spring return or exhaust portion of the cycle) causes the indexing (actuation) of the registering mechanism as is known in the art.

It will be appreciated that a consequence of a structure such as the foregoing that the complicated mechanisms heretofore employed may be replaced by the relatively simple layout of apparatus herein covered. No difliculties Will occur as a consequence of overheating due to the expansion of the air as it passes through the flapper and the resultant cooling at the point of application of pressure. Also, back pressures will not be present in that a rapid exhaust of air will occur. The air impulse results in pure torque output with a positive actuation of the registering mechanism. That mechanism will not be subjected to undue strains in that the piston itself will be subject to a positive stop action in both directions and at points where the mechanism of the counter is short of extreme limit positions. Also, it will be noted that a compact assembly is provided which is capable of ready association with desired apparatus.

It will therefor be evident from the foregoing that the practice of this invention will enable the utilization with air impulse devices of presently available counting devices which are activated solely by rotary motion.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. In an air impulse counter the combination including a casing, a cylindrical bore formed in said casing, a rotor rotatably supported within said bore, a port communicating said bore externally of said casing, a longitudinally reciprocable piston within said bore between said rotor and said port, a pin transversely supported by said piston, a helical groove formed in said rotor receiving said pin, spring means yieldingly urging said piston toward said port, said port being formed with adjacent longitudinally displaced decreased diameter and increased diameter cylindrical port sections with said decreased diameter port section adjacent said cylindrical bore, an annular shoulder formed by the junction of said increased and decreased diameter port sections, a flapper member within said increased diameter port section and free to move toward and away from said annular shoulder, a central aperture in said flapper member having a diameter less than said decreased diameter port section, a plurality of radially displaced passages in said flapper member spaced from said central aperture on a radius greater than the radius of said decreased diameter port'section, abutment members formed on said casing and projecting within said bore, said pin being formed with projecting ends whereby the said air upon ingress through said port forces said flapper .against said annular shoulder blocking said radially displaced passages and passes through said central aperture and impinges upon said piston overcoming the force of said spring means and causes said projecting ends to strike said abutment members, and egress of said air upon said spring means urging said piston toward said port and moving said flapper member away from said shoulder allowing said air to egress through said radially displaced flapper passages and said central aperture allowing increased egress area.

2. An air impulse counter in accordance with claim 1 in which a diaphragm formed of a resilient material is disposed within said casing bore between said piston and said port sealing said casing bore from said port and abutting said piston.

3. An air impulse counter in accordance with claim 1 in which said port, said casing bore, and said central aperture have the same central axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,965 10/31 Fuller et al. 92-33 1,932,916 10/33 Taylor 92-33 2,524,552 10/50 Wales et al. 91-443 2,716,997 9/55 Crookston 137--5l3.3

2,853,295 9/58 Sabee. 2,930,362 3/60 Riester et al. 2,973,748 3/ 61 Leland et al. 2,976,886 3/61 Miscovich. 3,013,535 12/61 Schultz.

FRED E. ENGELTHALER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN AIR IMPULSE COUNTER THE COMBINATION INCLUDING A CASING, A CYLINDRICAL BORE FORMED IN SAID CASING, A ROTOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID BORE, A PORT COMMUNICATING SAID BORE EXTERNALLY TO SAID CASING, A LONGITUDINALLY RECIPROCABLE PISTON WITHIN SAID BORE BETWEEN SAID ROTOR AND SAID PORT, A PIN TRANSVERSELY SUPPORTED BY SAID PISTON, A HELICAL GROOVE FORMED IN SAID ROTOR RECEIVING SAID PIN, SPRING MEANS YIELDINGLY URGING SAID PISTON TOWARD SAID PORT, SAID PORT BEING FORMED WITH ADJACENT LONGITUDINALLY DISPLACED DECREASED DIAMETER AND INCREASED DIAMETER CYLINDRICAL PORT SECTIONS WITH SAID DECREASED DIAMETER PORT SECTION ADJACENT SAID CYLINDRICAL BORE, AN ANNULAR SHOULDER FORMED BY THE JUNCTION OF SAID INCREASED AND DECREASED DIAMETER PORT SECTIONS, A FLAPPED MEMBER WITHIN SAID INCREASED DIAMETER PORT SECTION AND FREE TO MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID ANNULAR SHOULDER, A CENTRAL APERTURE IN SAID FLAPPER MEMBER HAVING A DIAMETER LESS THAN SAID DECREASED DIAMETER PORT SECTION, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY DISPLACED PASSAGES IN SAID FLAPPER MEMBER SPACED FROM SAID CENTRAL APERTURE ONA RADIUS GREATER THAN THE RADIUS OF SAID DECREASED DIAMETER PORT SECTION, ABUTMENT MEMBERS FORMED IN SAID CASING AND PROJECTING WITHIN SAID BORE, SAID PIN BEING FORMED WITH PROJECTING ENDS WHEREBY THE SAID AIR UPON INGRESS THROUGH SAID PORT FORCES SAID FLAPPED AGAINST SAID ANNULAR SHOULDER SAID PORT SAID RADIALLY DISPLACED PASSAGES AND PASSES THROUGH SAID CENTRAL APERTURE AND IMPINGES UPON SAID PISTON OVERCOMING THE FORCE OF SAID SPRING MEANS AND CAUSES SAID PROJECTING ENDS TO STRIKE SAID ABUTMENT MEMBERS, AND ENGRESS OF SAID AIR UPON SAID SPRING MEANS URGING SAID PISTON TOWARD SAID PORT AND MOVING SAID FLAPPER MEMBER AWAY FROM SAID SHOULDER ALLOWING SAID AIR TO ENGRESS THROUGH SAID RADIALLY DISPLACED FLAPPER PASSAGES AND SAID CENTRAL APERTURE ALLOWING INCREASED ENGRESS AREA. 